“Before, it seemed like they would make a beeline between the fairgrounds and Balboa Island. Now they seem to be coming over our area more,” Marlo said, then added he is normally not home during the daytime hours to have noticed the increase firsthand.
Much of the discussion at monthly association meetings has equally dealt with the proposed expansion of the airport, which residents in Eastbluff clearly oppose.
Airport officials attribute the possibility of changed takeoff paths to changes in weather and outside forces pilots simply need to be ready for. But all procedures are approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, airport spokeswoman Jenny Wedge said.
“The departure path generally follows the Newport Back Bay,” Wedge said. “However, that path can broaden depending on several factors including wind, when the pilot turns and the rate of their turn as they proceed toward the coastline.”
City Councilman Don Webb, who lives on the other side of the bay, continually reviews printouts provided by the airport of flight paths for the previous months and years in comparison.
From what he has noticed, the data shows a takeoff pattern that fans out pretty evenly over the bay. “The planes don’t follow a single path,” Webb said. “Once they get up in the air there isn’t a railroad track in the sky.
“We’ve had exceptionally hot weather and people have their windows open more.”
. While speculating about the possible reasons residents have noticed more noise, Webb said he has not personally heard any complaints over the last few months.
